The Politics of Johannes Althusius.

An abridged translation of the Third Edition of
POLITICA METHODICE DIGESTA,
ATQUE EXEMPLIS SACRIS
ET PROFANIS ILLUSTRATA
And including the Prefaces to the First and Third Editions
Translated, with an Introduction by FREDERICK S. CARNEY
Preface by Carl J. Friedrich

BEACON PRESS
BOSTON
Copyright © 1964 by Frederick S. Carney
Library of Congress catalogue card number: 64-20498
Published simultaneously in Canada by S. J. Reginald Saunders and Co., Ltd., Toronto
All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

  Preface by Carl J. Friedrich page vii

  Translator's Introduction xiii

The New Interest in the Political Theory of Althusius.
The Basic Structure of His Thought.
His Major Literary Sources.
Some Notes on This Translation

Politics Methodically Set Forth, and Illustrated with Sacred and Profane Examples

  PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION (1603) 1

  PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION (1614) 8

  I THE GENERAL ELEMENTS OF POLITICS 12

  II-III THE FAMILY 22

  IV THE COLLEGIUM 28

  V-VI THE CITY 34

  VII-VIII THE PROVINCE 46

  IX POLITICAL SOVEREIGNTY, AND ECCLESIASTICAL COMMUNICATION 61

  X-XVII SECULAR COMMUNICATION 74

  XVIII THE EPHORS AND THEIR DUTIES 87

  XIX-XX THE CONSTITUTING OF THE SUPREME MAGISTRATE 115

  XXI-XXVII POLITICAL PRUDENCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH 130

  XXVIII ECCLESIASTICAL ADMINISTRATION 154

  XXIX-XXXVII SECULAR ADMINISTRATION 170

  XXXVIII TYRANNY AND ITS REMEDIES 185

  XXXIX TYPES OF SUPREME MAGISTRATE 195

Appendices

  I COLLATION OF THIS TRANSLATION WITH THE 1614 EDITION 205

  II LIST OF ALTHUSIUS' LITERARY SOURCES REFERRED TO IN THIS TRANSLATION 209

  III SELECT LIST OF RECENT WRITINGS ON ALTHUSIUS 220

  INDEX 223